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Trailblazer 302D low AC voltage

Hi folks, I've got a problem with my TB and was hoping the "collective" could help. I've been following the forum for a while (just never joined) so I scoured several older posts but nothing that matched my situation exactly. Anyhow, about two weeks ago I noticed the 120v outlet seemed a bit weak so I went through the usual routine. Fuel filters, air filter, oil, check and adjust run/idle speed (3750 no load) . No change. Ordered and installed new brushes and cleaned slip rings. No change. Checked wiring and connections. Found a broken spade connector on a (physically) large 200 ohm resistor, located above the fuel tank and beside the PC1 board. Replaced the spade connector and checked resistance (out of circuit), 200 ohms. No noticeable change. Btw, my meter showed 110v and 220v at the outlets. I was unable to check the freq because my meter is very basic. I went ahead and ordered a good fluke and had it shipped 2 day priority..... a week ago. (yup, that's my luck). So it should be here between Monday and August. It still welds strong on DC, but feels weak when welding on AC. I fear that a new PC1 board will have to be ordered, but it seems that I read a post here some time back about needing to replace other components at the same time as the board. A rectifier of sorts if memory serves me correctly ( and it usually doesn't, haha). Anyhow, advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated. My machine is a 2006 Trailblazer 302D ser# LG054799 with almost 3000 hrs. Thanks again, T.J.

So i got my new Fluke in today and here's what I found. 115v and 62.8Hz @3750rpm/no load. Also, I plugged in my plasma cutter (spectrum 625) and watched at the plug under a load and the volts dropped quickly to about 160 when the plasma faulted. Any ideas? And I have run that plasma cutter off of my machine before and that never happened so it is unusual. Thanks.

Generator testing

When I am checking out generators, I like to apply different loads, then listen, watch and measure what happens. There is a nifty box called a kill-a-watt for 110V, will measure voltage, amperage, Volt-amp, wattage, total wattage, frequency, and maybe one or two other things.

Electric space heaters and construction lights are simple resistor loads. Motors involve surge current at start up, so a very different load. But it is not trivial to measure the surge current. I have to think that a plasma cutter is also a complex load.

It is good to take baseline measurements and write down the result. Then you can check the result later and see if whatever you did improved things or made it worse.

When I am checking out generators, I like to apply different loads, then listen, watch and measure what happens. There is a nifty box called a kill-a-watt for 110V, will measure voltage, amperage, Volt-amp, wattage, total wattage, frequency, and maybe one or two other things.

Electric space heaters and construction lights are simple resistor loads. Motors involve surge current at start up, so a very different load. But it is not trivial to measure the surge current. I have to think that a plasma cutter is also a complex load.

It is good to take baseline measurements and write down the result. Then you can check the result later and see if whatever you did improved things or made it worse.

Good luck,
Richard

I've seen those before but never thought of using it for my machine. That's great info, thanks.